Wrench



(NoMoael.)

J. E. REESE. WRENCH.

No. 551,232. Panterlted Dec. 10, 1895.

ANDRW E GRAHAMA PHOTO-LUNDWASHI NGTONADC UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES EDXVARD REESE, OF ST. LOUIS,`MISSOURI.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,232, dated December 10, 1895. Application fiied'sepamber 26, 1893. Renewed september 9, 1895. serial No. 562,01V moneda.)

To all whom z5 may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES EDWARD REEsE, of St. Louis, State of Missouri,have invented certain new -and useful Improvements in lVrenches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof.

My invention relates to an improved wrench; and it consists in the 'novel arrangement, coinbination, and construction of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and designated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved wrench, showing the jaws open ready to engage a nut. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of Fig. 1, more clearly showing the parts inclosed in the handle of the wrench. Fig. 3 isa vertical longitudinal crosssection more clearly showing my improved wrench. Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, showing the position of the cam in engagement with the movable shank which l use in carrying out my invention. Fig. 5 is a like section showing the cam out of engagement with the shank. Fig. 6 is a detail crosssection more clearly showing the screw which l use in carrying out my invention, said section being taken on the line 61.6 in Fig! 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a handle which is constructed with an opening 2 therein, which is rectangular in cross-section and terminates adjacent the free end of said handle. Located in the opening 2 and constructed to reciprocate therein is a shank 3, which is also rectangular in cross-section to conform with the opening in the handle. The outer end of said shank is provided with a jaw 4, which is integral therewith.

5 indicates a fixed jaw which is formed integral with the handle 1 and projects upward a suitable distance therefrom and conforms in size with the jaw 4. An enlarged portion 6 is formed on the upper side of the handle and terminates in the jaw 5, this enlaifged portion projecting back from said jaw a suitable distance to allow a cam 7 to be located in the cut-out portion of said enlarged portion. The cut-out portion opens lnto the opening 2 in the handle. The cam 7 is revolubly mounted in bearings formed by the enlarged portion 6 and is longitudinal with the shank 3 and the handle l, it being held in position by a screw or pin 8 passing through the enlarged portion 6 and the cam 7.

The outer periphery of the cam 7 is constructed with screw-threads 9, which do not extend clear around said cam, but terminate adjacent the iiat portion 10 formed on the outer periphery of said cam. These screwthreads project into the opening 2 and engage teeth 11 formed on the adjacent jaw of the shank 3.

Connected to the outer periphery of the cam 7 adjacent the flat portion thereof is a projection 12 to be engaged by the thumb of the operator to partially rotate said cam.

The terminating ends 13 of the threads 9 are sharpened so they will readily engage and not come in contact with the teeth 11 formed on the shank, and the ends engaged irst of the teeth 11 are also chamfered or sharpened, so that the sharpened portion of the threads 9 will readily engage the teeth 11.

Formed in the lower edge of the handle beneath the cam 7 and opening into the opening 2 is-a longitudinal slot 14, which allows a trigger 15 carried by the shank 3 to horizontally move in said slot.

Formed on the inward-projecting end of the shank is a projection 16, which is in alignment with the sides of said shank.

Formed in the closed end of the handle 1 is a screw-threaded bore 17 to allow a screw such as 18 to be adjustably located therein. This screw 18 is in alignment with the projection 16, and said screw is provided with a longitudinal bore 19 terminating in the outward end of said screw.

2O indicates an expansion coil-spring one end of which is located in the bore 19 of the screw 18, and the opposite end is located on the projection 16 carried by the shank. The purpose of this spring is to push the shank outward when the threads on the cam 7 are disengaged from the teeth 11 on the shank.

IOO

Vhen they are so disengaged, the spring 20 will automatically push the shank and the clamping-jaw 4 outward, and if it is desired to adjust it for a small nut the operator draws on the trigger l5 until the jaw 4 is in the required position, when he turns the cam 7 with his thumb by means of the projectionl l2 into the position shovm in Figs. l, 2, and 4. lVhen the cam is in this position, the jaws 4 and 5 are rigid relative to each other.

VBy adjusting the screw 1S the spring 2O may be made to exert a variable pressure upon the movable shank.

That I claim isl. The improved wrench,constructed with a handle and a iixed jaw, a spring-pressed sha-nk carrying a movable jaw and arranged to automatically move away from said' iixed jaw, and a cam for locking said shank in position,y substantially as herein specified.

. 2. The improved wrench, constructed with a handle and axed j aw,said handle having a longitudinal opening therein and av slot 14 communicating with said opening, aV shank 3 sliding in said opening, a trigger l5 having its inner end secured to said shank, and its body projecting outwardthrougli said slot, a jaw 4 iXed upon said shank, a spring 20 mounted in said handle to engage said shank and automatically move it outward, means for adjusting the pressure of said spring, and a cam for locking said shank in position, substantially as herein specified.

3. In a wrench, a handle constructed with an opening therein, one end of said handle being open and the opposite end closed, a shank carrying a jaw constructed to be mounted in said opening, a screwthreaded through the closed end oi' the handle, a projection formed on the inner end of the shank, a coil spring mounted on said proj ection, and in the bore formed in said screw, all arranged and combined to operate in= the manner set forth. 

